If you have been following over the past few months, we have been covering a handful of topics that help you learn how to become more resilient. Most of which surround the concept that resistance training is your ticket to longevity and long term resilience in life!
But what if you don’t really want to lift weights? What if you have gotten hurt from weightlifting before or just feel that it is not the right fit for you? Does that mean you are destined for failure? Destined to be a sorry case cooped up in a nursing home for the latter half of life?
No way…
What do you do if the above describes YOU but you would like to feel better, last longer, be capable of more things and be better at life? (My definition of resilience).
The key to being resilient is putting yourself under stressors that eventually elicit the change you are hoping to see. You want to apply it over and over again until it becomes less stressful, almost easy if you will. If you want more change, you apply it again, but in a more challenging scenario… Here are a few examples.
Example 1: Person 1 wants to be able to handle life’s stress with less internal turmoil. Person 1 uses the incoming stress as lessons versus barriers, utilizing the growth mindset. Over time, the turmoil that was once a result of a life’s stress no longer comes on with as much vengeance as it did prior to the growth mindset application.
Example 2: Person 2 wants to have less knee pain after long runs. Person 2 sees a PT who tells them that they need stronger tendons to withstand the long runs. Person 2 begins to apply resistance training principals that are slightly challenging but do-able to that said tendon, creating strength over time. Person 2 now can run with little to no knee pain now that things are a bit stronger.
Example 3: Person 3 wants to stay active for a lifetime but does not want to lift weights. Person 3 knows the benefits of weightlifting but has a previous experience that made her realize that her body is not build for that “type of thing”. Person 3 sees a healthcare and performance specialist who is able to find a baseline level of strength and build from there. Person 3 begins with a fews weeks of bodyweight exercise. It was challenging at first but now has become much easier. Person 3 realizes that she does need to add weights to her routine to keep up the progress. A few months later, Person 3 now lifts weights 3 days per week and feels better than ever. Person 3 did NOT think that weightlifting was for her, but was fortunate to have been gradually introduced as it changed her life for the better.
Exercise is the best way to gain and maintain longevity. Period. The type of exercise recommended is both in the realm of resistance and cardiovascular training. If you are unsure about strength training, it’s all about starting… well… where you start? and all starting points are different…
Every exercise routine has a starting point and your starting point is based upon your goals, what you believe in, what your body can handle, and science. Why science? Science tells us that if we gradually add resistance training (bodyweight, bands, or weights) into a person’s regular routine, they will see positive changes including less disease, less pain, and better life.
Adding resistance training can begin with bodyweight exercises, like Person 3 from the above example. (Who is a real person I may add). It should transition into more challenging work when you are ready and with proper instruction from a coach.
The point of all of this? If you have some form of aversion to weight lifting, you are not alone! There is a time an a place to add heavy weights and it may not be where you should start when it comes to a resiliency plan!
Have you ever been afraid of lifting weights?